DAR ES SALAAM — Tanzania’s cases of COVID-19 have soared to 284 after 30 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has said today Wednesday April 22.
The prime minister was speaking at a national prayer at Karimjee Grounds in Dar es Salaam where he called upon the nation to take all the necessary precaution against the virus.
He said that of the 284 cases, 11 had healed and discharged, 10 had succumbed to the virus whereas the others were still under treatment with seven under special care.
He, however, did not mention the areas where these new cases had come from after 17 regions registered positive cases on Monday.
On Monday April 20, 84 people tested positive for the coronavirus, raising the total number of infections to 254.
In a statement released by the ministry, the patients were spread out in 17 regions of mainland Tanzania including with Dar es Salaam being the worst hit.
President John Magufuli has since ruled out the possibility of locking down the commercial hub, Dar es Salaam because of the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“There are those who have suggested that we lockdown Dar es Salaam. This is not possible, “ President was quoted by local media as saying.
He added: Dar es Salaam is the only centre where we collect almost 80 per cent of the country’s revenue, we can continue taking all measures to curb the virus but not by locking down Dar es Salaam.
“Preach positive messages about the pandemic because it is not true that everyone who dies it is because of the coronavirus.”
